Aloha Oe Kathy--Until we meet again

Kathy passed away this afternoon with the same grace and peace that exemplified her life. It was an unexpected ending to an emotional, terrifying and spiritual three weeks. I would like to thank our kids for regularly updating this blog so that Kathy's friends and family could share her life. I would also like to add my perspective and share two personal experiences that bracket these three weeks.

First, thank you all for the loving letters, emails, phone calls, travel to Hawaii, gifts, cards, face book postings, flowers, chocolates, cookies, candy grams and edible arrangements (fruit bouquets). Each one brought smiles and priceless memories to both of us. Thank you for the concern, prayers, and well wishes. They meant a lot to her and they mean a lot to me, now. Thank you.

Three weeks ago Kathy and I were volunteer guides at the Mormon Temple in La'ie, Hawaii. It had been closed 2 years for renovations. Prior to reopening for religious uses, the temple was open to the public and we thought it would be fun to participate as guides. Each tour began on the first floor and ended at the top of the temple in a marriage or 'sealing' room. Mormons believe that a marriage performed in the temple does not end at death, but will endure through all eternity. Kathy and I had the opportunity to stand before several groups that day and tell how 40 years before, we were married to each other forever. On our drive back home we both commented on how special the reminder was. We recommitted our love to each other--forever. Early the next morning Kathy had the "MRI" and diagnosis. After the shock wave passed, she told me how the terrible news was softened by the comfort and sweetness we experienced in the temple the day before.

That was just three weeks ago. Yesterday, was a full day day of visits, laughter and family. Kathy felt well and asked me when I was going to break down and take her to Tahiti. During the night she awoke and asked me to hold her. After some time she said, "I'm going now. I love you forever." She slipped into a comma and passed away peacefully a few hours later.

She loved life and the adventures it brought. She loved her family and rejoiced in their growth and accomplishments. She was loved for being an example, for her kindness, selflessness and compassion. She will be missed.

Walking through life with you Kathy, has been a wonderful and rich journey.

Warren

Hawaii Funeral Services will be held on

Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010

Viewing 5-7pm; Services 7pm

Hawaii Kai LDS Church Building

219 Lunalilo Home Road

Honolulu, HI 96825

More Info: 602-818-2471

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US

Utah Funeral Service

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Chapel Service 11:00am

Lunch and visiting to follow for all

Ashley Park LDS Church Building

10312 Ashley Park Dr (2130 E)

Sandy, Utah 84092

ALL ARE WELCOME TO COME

Successful Biopsy

Hi all- Kari here again. The boys and their families have all departed to their homes in their respective parts of the world. Thanks to everyone for coming-mom talks constantly of her beautiful grandkids and great kids! We are lucky to have each other and this time to enjoy the blessings around us.
An update on Mom-Today she had a biopsy on the brain tumor. The procedure went well and Mom is already home and eating lunch. The Drs told mom to expect a night in the hospital before returning home-so we are grateful to have Mom home only two hours after the surgery! The Dr confirmed that the tumor IS a Glioblastoma--the final results will be given in 2 days but he told Dad that the prilimary results were conclusive enough to determine this. If anything changes-I'll let you know :)
Thank you for all the prayers, good thoughts, treats, chocolates-we all have felt so much love and support through this and can't say thank you enough! Love to you all! Kari

Saturday is a Special Day...

Saturday morning Mom and Dad met with Hospice care to discuss options and expectations. It's sobering enough to have such a meeting to discuss the care of an aging parent - but to have the discussion regarding one's self must be an incredibly trying experience. I asked Mom how it went and she just smiled and said, "It went wonderfully."


We took our kids to Bellows beach for the afternoon with the plan for Mom and Dad to meet us there when they were ready, but Mom got tired and needed a nap so instead we met up with them for Dinner and watched the sun-set from the back patio.

Catch-Up

This entry covers the span of 4 days Tuesday through Friday November 12th.

Greg, Pete and Ashlie and kids left Friday evening back for the mainland. It was a lot of fun for Mom to watch her grandkids playing with each other, and she received lots of love and hugs throughout the week.
At Kailua Beach the kids had a great time sand-boarding down the dunes, each had a taste of success, intermingled with sand.

The crabs were plentiful and tenacious, Mom cheered us on and insisted that we capture this moment in time of a crab doing pull-ups. This week Mom's favorite activity was sitting on the beach watching her grandkids play in the sand and surf.

Morgan gave Grandma a backscratch and then gave her a big hug afterwards.

YUMMY!

What a wonderful treat we received today from the nurses of Banner Gateway. Thank you so much for the edible bouquet. Kathy was tickled and misses her old work and the wonderful people at Banner. Next to chocolate, these edible bouquets have become quite the hit with having the whole family around...it's always hard to take the first piece because it's so pretty, but once the first piece of fruit is eaten it disappears quickly. Thanks Banner nurses again for your thoughts and friendship for Kathy.

...And for other news, mom wanted me to let everyone know she will be having a biopsy on Monday. Thanks to everyone who has called and sent their love and prayers. Mom has really been enjoying talking with friends from when they lived in Arizona and Oregon.

A Nice Visit with Friends

Last night mom had friends from work over and really had a nice visit with all of them. Thank you everyone who came and visited with Kathy. We know it is a drive to get here and there were many phone calls to help people find our home. It was such a pleasant night filled with laughter, good food and more chocolate. Mom couldn't have asked for anything better...thank you

Of course she still can't keep her hands off the babies

Today we were blessed to start the day off with a wonderful sunrise out on the lanai. Dad cooked blueberry pancakes while Ellie and I(Greg) provided the entertainment on the stand up paddle board.

Ellie was a natural and took off before I could give her "paddle boarding 101"

I heard neither Kari, nor Dan fell in while paddle boarding and made sure I got "paddle boarding 101, 202 and" my dad pushed me off and told me to quit being a baby, no one ever falls in. The nerves almost got the best of me but I made it out dry.

[imagine pics or really cool fish from our hanauma bay trip in the morning. We made it to the the bay with Dad's fun underwater camera but left the battery charging at home]

Joy Monahan and her husband and sister took us surfing today. They were aweseome and spent a lot of time with the adults and kids letting us have all the fun. I wish we could have seen her surf, but she was too busy pushing all of us into waves and giving us coaching lessons. Thank you so much Joy, Drew and Kristin (sorry if I misspelled your names)

By the end Jeff looked like a big wave surfer (minus the big wave)

Sydney made it look like she's been surfing for years

And Thomas and Sam were showing everybody up by going double.

Today was a lot of fun playing with cousins and letting mom have a little break. Scott(the oldest) left for home to take care of his family today and we wish him a safe return. We have truly been blessed by an outpouring of love toward mom and dad and want to thank everyone who is praying, has sent a note, called, dropped by the house and for the many other kind acts which have been done for our family.

-Greg

Today was a beautiful Sunday spent at church and at home with family and friends. With the Laie temple dedication approaching, many of the testimonies, including mom's, was on the blessings of the temple and the peace of knowing that we will be together as a family even after this life. We (the kids) were blessed to have so many people come and tell us how wonderful our parents are (of course we already knew that), but it was really nice to see the love of mom's and dad's ward and their generosity towards us. Mom had multiple leis given to her from members of the ward and even Ashlie and Whitney received a fresh flower lei by the time church was over.

After church the grandkids enjoyed spending the afternoon trying their luck at crabbing out back. The grandkids had a pretty successful haul, I think after the day was done the score was 20-2. The kids caught 20 crabs and only 2 kids fell in the water, one in the marina diving for the fishing line that a crab ran away with, the other in the koi pond in the backyard. We are really praying the koi survive the traumatic intrusion...those fish are family.

Sam and Ellie with their first catch of the day!

Tanner tried valiantly to save his brother's sinking fishing line...Jeff (his dad) was nice enough to hose him off after defeat.

Mom also had two sweet friends from work drop by today and get to be overwhelmed by the size of Mom's family. I hope we didn't scare them off too bad. Mom had a wonderful visit with them and even let them try some of her chocolates(I think we are running low since all the kids came in town, we only have 5lbs of sees left )

-Greg

The grandkids have arrived...let the smiles commence!

Today was a great day. No doubt tiring for Jeff and his family. Jeff arrived today from Indonesia with his family. He has a large family and he traveled from the furthest away. But you wouldn't have guessed it based on the spirits they showed up with. But before all the arrivals Scott, Greg, and I (Dan) decided to hike koko head crater. We had heard from credible sources that the hike was not too bad. So we set out early. Here is where the trail head starts. It shouldn't be called koko head...it should be called kuku head because it's crazy.

View from the top to prove that we all made it.

On our way down we saw a guy carrying a 5 gallon water jug up the hill. When asked why he was doing it he said it was for exercise!

Almost immediately Pete's kids and Jeff's kids reunited and started playing with their cousin counterparts. It was great to see how quickly and easily relationships were kindled. Koi were fed, crabs were caught, and pools were swam in. Everyone had fun, especially Mom. Anyone who knows Mom knows that she has a special spot in her heart for children and having all these kids around seemed to give her a shot of sunshine in her day.

Also, around the same time that Jeff arrived two beautiful edible arrangments were delived to our door. Brett's good friends from Arizona heard the news about Mom and got together and sent her some wonderful gifts. I don't know your names but thank you for think of us, they were really really good.

After pleasentries were over and the chocolate covered fruit was eaten we packed up and headed to Kailua beach. It was Mom's idea to take us all there and it was a fantastic idea. It had blue waters, long breaking waves, soft sand, and a nice breeze to keep us cool. We all had a blast. Maddy came home with the title of catching the best wave on a boogie board. She was out there almost the entire time and got really good at it and ended up catching a wave that was so big that Greg and Pete both let it pass by...but not Maddy.

To finish the day off we went to Mom's visiting teachers house, Nancy, to celebrate Dad's and Jessie's birthday. They have a gorgeous view of the beach and we were very appreciative of their hospitality.

We decided to take some pictures of the view. It started out civil with Mom and Dad showing us how proper people should do it. But then Pete got involved. It took a few minutes and some stern advice from Mom and our spouses...but we finally got a good picture of all us boys too.

Today was a great day, we all have some fun memories and stories to tell. Mom looked happy with her toes in the sand and a hat on her head. No kids got lost at the beach and her friend Nancy seemed to still like her by the time we all cleared off of her property. I would say that is a great day. Thank you everyone for making it happen, for all the traveling, preparing, expenses, and Mom and Dad for hosting us during this special time for us to grow closer together as a family.

Pete's family arrives....and burgers are consumed

Scott's turn on the Blog....

Another rainy windy day here in Hawaii. The clouds make it tough for Mom to see the sunrise, but it cleared up later for a bit. We teased Dan a bit. Every time Dan went outside the rain would fall and the wind would pick up. Dan Greg and I planned on hiking Koko head, then it rained. Later, Greg and Dan went out to go kayaking...wind picked up and the rains fell.

Mom's visiting teachers came today. I know Mom appreciates the love and care they have for her. (Dan Greg and I made ourselves scarce. We figured they could use some "adult" time.)


After Pete arrived, we joked that we needed to have Dan stay inside so the kids could play outside. Strangely, it kinda worked.

Ashley and mom visited for quite some time this afternoon. It was good for her to visit with someone who could really understand some of the things she has to make decisions on.


For dinner, we all went to Teddy's Bigger Burgers. Holy COW. Literally.

Came home and called it a night. Protein overload will do that to you!

Tomorrow Jeff and his family come from Indonesia. Mom is excited to see more of her wonderful Grandkids. More pictures to come!

Multiple trips to the airport

Today was a sad one because of several departures. Kari, Jane, and Barbara all left at about the same time. Mom was really appreciative of their service and sacrifice to come and visit. There is a special bond and love between sisters and it was very apparent with Mom and her sisters. Mom comes from a great family and great parents and it’s always a pleasant experience when we get to gather together with her brother and sisters. Thank you for coming.

Kari also left today. You will be missed Kari. Mom went from having more girls in the house to being outnumbered 4-1 in the course of about 2 hours. Kari was great to be Mom's ally and cheerleader. Kari organized all the schedules, food, shopping, and day-to-day efforts so Mom and Dad could focus on other things. Thank you Kari for working so hard to make sure not only Mom and Dad were comfortable but for sacrificing so much to keep us all up to date and happy.

But it is not all departures today. Greg came today about the same time that Kari left. No matter the situation it’s always very hard for Mom to say goodbye, but given the circumstances it’s even harder. So it was a nice balance that Greg arrived the day that so many loved ones left.

Scott and I (Dan) decided to leave the house so the girls could spend some time together without us hovering around them. So we headed over to Hanama Bay, about 5 miles from the house. It was great, we took the underwater camera and were able to snap some good pictures. We even saw a turtle!

Mom’s health and spirits are as good as ever, she is looking forward to Pete and Jeff and their families coming in the next couple days.